A visit to the beautiful city of Florence was the last and the longest of our stop of our Tour of Italy. We spent five days in the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region and the second favorite of tourists, just behind Rome.
Day 1
We arrived in Florence by train after spending a few wonderful days exploring Cinque Terre. While in Florence, we stayed at Sina Villa Medici. It was a beautiful hotel, but for us, the location wasn’t terrific. Next time, we will look to staying either at the Westin, which is in a better location, or at other options.
After checking in and dropping off our bags, we headed out to explore. While in Florence, it’s hard to miss Santa Maria del Fiore (aka “Duomo” or “Duomo di Firenze”) due to its size. The Duomo, with it’s façade, adorned with white, green, and red marble, is stunning and an great example of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. The construction began in 1296 and only structurally completed in 1436.
The cathedral’s most remarkable feature is its massive dome, which was the largest in the world at the time of its completion and remains an engineering marvel. Good news for those interested, you can climb the 436 stairs to the dome. Unfortunately there is no elevator, but it does bring you 91 meters above found so the views are fantastic.
Since we had already visited many churches and cathedrals during our trip, we opted not to visit inside or do the stair climb. For those interested in visiting, the cathedral itself is free to visit, but you need a ticket for the dome. Click here to purchase tickets directly or there are plenty of guided tour options available if you are interested that option.
Since this is a religious site, you will need to wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. And on Sundays, due to worship, and during religious celebrations the Cathedral is closed to visitors.
Day 2
Day 2 in Florence started with breakfast and cappuccinos at the hotel. The only plan for the morning was shopping. First we headed to the Ponte Vecchio area.
Ponte Vecchio, beloved symbol of Florence, means “Old Bridge” in Italian, is a historic and iconic structure spanning the Arno River. First built in Roman times, the current bridge dates back to 1345 and is renowned for its unique design, featuring a series of shops built along its edges. These shops were initially occupied by butchers but today mostly jewelers, art dealers, and souvenir sellers.
After exploring the shops of Ponte Vecchio, we kept walking and shopped some more in the Oltrarno quarter, which is just south of the river. There, we found many great shops and purchased beautiful leather boots, shoes and cashmere sweaters.
Finally, we made it to the Mercato Nuovo an open market with a lot of stalls selling leather goods, souvenirs and more. We did find a few very reasonably priced items to bring home. Just make sure to negotiate and do a good quality check before purchasing. I did buy a bag there that I love and is still in pretty good shape that I use quite often.
Late afternoon, we headed to a Pizza and Gelato cooking class. There, we learned all the steps to make gelato and pizza from scratch. Not only was it a fun activity, the scenery was unbelievable.
Since it’s located a few minutes outside of the city, we were picked up in central Florence and transported to their facility by bus. Once there, we were amazed at how beautiful property was with its incredible views. It has a large kitchen well equipped for cooking classes, outdoor pizza oven and covered tables for pizza prep and dining.
We highly, HIGHLY recommend this activity to anyone visiting Florence.
Day 3
On the third day we headed on self-guided e-bike Florence & Tuscany tour with vineyard visit. We picked up the e-bikes and our map and headed out for our adventure.
It was a great way to spend the day exploring the Tuscan landscape. It was very quiet and beautiful, we barely saw any other humans. With multiple stops along the way to take pictures and refill our water bottles, the main stop was at the Fattoria di Poggiopiano winery.
On the way back, we stopped at Piazzale Michelangelo for a breathtaking panoramic view of Florence.
This tour was great since it allowed us to go at our own pace and not have to keep up with a group. We stopped when we wanted and didn’t have to make others wait or us wait for others.
We felt pretty safe the whole time and didn’t encounter much traffic, only a bit to and from the bike shop. Within the city of Florence we were able to ride mostly on dedicated pathways and on roads with very little traffic in the countryside.
For dinner, we headed to Babae for food and drinks. We really enjoyed our experience there. The food, drinks and ambiance were great. And, they have a wine window, which is quite fun. A wine window, or “buchette del vino,” is small, historic opening found in the wall of buildings. These windows date back to the 16th century and were used by merchants to sell wine directly to customers, bypassing the need for middlemen and avoiding the taxes imposed on larger transactions. Each window is typically framed in stone and often features a small wooden door.
Fun fact: During the COVID-19 pandemic, these charming windows experienced a revival. Local businesses once again utilized them to serve food and drinks while maintaining social distancing.
Day 4
On this day, we had more of a lazy morning. We slept in a bit and had breakfast at the hotel. Then, went walking around to see what we could see and did a bit more shopping. Early afternoon we had tickets to go see The David in Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze.
Consider buying your tickets in advance. This will help to ensure that you aren’t disappointed and don’t end up paying too much. We made that mistake. If you are interested in a guided tour, there are plenty of options. You can buy tickets here.
The David, a renowned statue created by the Italian artist Michelangelo, between 1501 and 1504. Standing at 17 feet tall, this marble masterpiece depicts the biblical hero David, who is famous for defeating the giant Goliath. Michelangelo’s David is celebrated for its exquisite detail, realistic anatomy, and expressive emotion, showcasing the artist’s extraordinary skill and the Renaissance ideals of human beauty and strength. Originally commissioned for the Cathedral of Florence, the statue now resides in the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence, Italy, drawing millions of visitors each year who come to admire its artistic and historical significance.
For our evening activity, we booked a Pasta Making class. The class was just above the restaurant Pizzium. Unfortunately, we didn’t eat there since we made our own food, but it has excellent reviews. So, give it a try and report back! During the class, we hand-made three different pasta types: ravioli, tagliatelle, and tortellini.
This was another fun activity and much less complicated than expected. It’s all about patience, quality of ingredients and love. We have made our own pasta at home several times since we have been back.
Day 5
On day 5, our last full day in Italy, it was our last chance to explore Florence. We spent most of the day walking around, seeing what there was to see and eating delicious foods.
Our first stop was Piazza della Signoria. It’s a historic and iconic square, in the heart of Florence. The centerpiece of the square is the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence’s town hall, which features a towering bell tower. In front of the Palazzo Vecchio, there is replica of Michelangelo’s David, standing where the original once did.
Later, we visited Piazza della Repubblica. It’s a lively spot, often filled with street performers, musicians, and tourists enjoying the atmosphere. The carousel in the center of the square adds a touch of charm, making it a favorite for families and children. The square is also a gateway to many of Florence’s main attractions, making it a central point for exploration in the city.
For lunch, we stopped by Panini Toscani. It was delicious! Definitely one of the best sandwiches we had in Italy. They make all sandwiches based on your custom selection of bread, cheese, meat and toppings.
And, for dessert, gelato was on the menu. We stopped by Riva Reno Gelato for a sweet treat. It was delicious and refeshing.
For dinner, we decided to head to Trattoria Giovanni to try a famous Florentine steak. The steak is typically from Chianina cattle — an ancient Tuscan breed known for its tasty meat — seasoned with local spices and grilled over red-hot coals. And, it’s big. Typically its about 3 inches thick and more than enough for 2 people.
Day 6
On Day 6, we took the train back to Rome for our flight back home. For several reasons, I wouldn’t plan it like this again, if it can be avoided. It was an extremely long day. With the 4 hours on the train from Florence to Rome and the almost 11 hours on the plane home it was great to get home.
Finally, if you are looking for additional Italian content, the posts below might interest you:
This stunning lace top maxi dress with v-neck design, with spaghetti straps is perfect for your next beach vacation or attending a destination wedding.
Great white sneakers that you can wear with a pair of jeans, pants or a dress. Perfect for travel!
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